Cessna 550 Crash in San Diego: Pilot Fatigue and Inoperative ASOS Cited as Factors

(AP)

May 23, 2025
SAN DIEGO, CA — Airplane crashes frequently occur when several otherwise singular and manageable errors accumulate and compound, resulting in pilot task overload. Preliminary information on the crash of a Cessna 550 airplane, federally registered as N666DS in San Diego on May 22, 2025, is consistent with compounding problems, including:

• single pilot operations when a co-pilot aboard the airplane would be prudent.
• a fatigued pilot executing an instrument approach in fog and to minimums at night after a long day.
• the FAA and National Weather Service’s failure to provide a current weather advisory at the accident airport on the Automated Surface Observing System (ASOS), which was inoperative.
• inoperative runway lighting.

Commonly known as the Citation II, the Cessna 550 is one of the few corporate jet aircraft certificated for single pilot operations. It is a relatively slow jet, cruising at only 360 knots, which means westbound flights into a high velocity jet stream will substantially reduce ground speed and make for a long, tiring day on a coast-to-coast flight.

The accident flight was apparently conducted with only a single pilot. The airplane departed Teterboro, New Jerey, in the late afternoon with a fuel stop in Wichita, before continuing on to Montgomery-Gibbs (KMYF) executive airfield near San Diego.

The weather at the destination airport was “unavailable” because the control tower was closed. The automated weather broadcast system (ASOS) for the airport was inoperative. The pilot was nonetheless advised by a local air traffic controller that the area and nearby airports were enveloped in thick fog. The pilot responded that he would nevertheless attempt the approach and, “give it a go.”

This is where singularly manageable problems stack up and compound into a dangerous mix of events. A long, multi-leg cross country flight made for a long day’s journey. The approach to land was commenced in dark early morning hours. The pilot was likely fatigued, and he did not have another pilot backing him up. The pilot lacked reliable weather information. A Notice to Airman (NOTAM) published by the FAA and apparently not reviewed or known to the pilot indicated that lighting for the runway the pilot chose was inoperative.

The flight track data indicates an unstable approach. The aircraft was below the glide path while on the approach.

Katzman, Lampert & Stoll has extensive experience handling crash cases involving Citation jet aircraft and partners at the firm have owned and operated Citation jets. We have also handled cases involving pilot fatigue resulting in pilot error causing accidents. We will update this post as information becomes available. We extend our deepest sympathies to all of the victims of this tragedy.